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A day after Smith released a statement saying the relationship between McNabb and his coaches is "an extremely difficult relationship to maintain," Kyle Shanahan rejected the notion and fired back at Smith.

"I called Donovan on the phone, mentioned I wanted to have a conversation with him to find out what this was all about," Kyle Shanahan said Friday. "And when I talked to Donovan [on Thursday], he said he didn't say any of that. I'm like, 'Well yeah, your agent did, which to me is you.' And he said he didn't agree with any of that, those words didn't come out of his mouth, he didn't tell his agent that stuff. So all I can go off is what Donovan tells me. And we've never had a confrontation all year, never had an argument, everything's been good. So it is kind of really a different situation to hear that stuff. But when I cleared it up with him, I've got to go with the reality of what the two guys it's between talk about."

When told of the discrepancies between his agent's statement and Kyle Shanahan's accounting of the situation, McNabb laughed and declined to comment, repeatedly wishing reporters a merry Christmas. Mike Shanahan, who released a statement on the matter Thursday night, declined to discuss the contradictions after practice Friday.

"Let's talk about football," the head coach said. "I'm not gonna go through the he-said, she-said, all those type of things. I'd like to concentrate [on] the job at hand."

Smith issued the following statement Friday afternoon: "Donovan and I talk constantly and have done so with more frequency during this season. We are absolutely on the same page. I standby my statement and will reserve any further comments until after I have had a chance to speak, directly, with coach Shanahan.".

Kyle Shanahan, the first-year coordinator, has repeatedly maintained this season that he has a friendly relationship with McNabb, even as anonymously sourced media reports suggested the opposite. In his weekly Friday interview with Comcast SportsNet - which the Redskins invited other reporters to view this week - the 31-year old decried such leaks and laughed off Smith's implication that he was a source.

"Obviously some people getting leaks out, I think that happens everywhere, but to think that coaches would do that when it only hurts the coaches is entertaining," he said. "But all we can do is worry about ourselves and worry about this team. We know that rumors happen, and hopefully guys don't pay attention to 'em. People are gonna do that, try to break people apart. That's why you've got to do things face to face, man to man, and clear things out with each other if you've got a problem. And when I've done that and the guy tells me he has no problem, and never has, then that's what you've got to go off of, the guy's word."

Shanahan said he sits in meetings with McNabb for up to four hours a day and frequently eats meals with him, including one Thursday shortly before the agent's fiery release was sent to media members. He said he asked McNabb directly Thursday evening whether there were any problems they needed to discuss, and that McNabb said "No, not at all. We've always been good."

Shanahan also rejected Smith's claim of "tension between Donovan and Kyle" stemming from McNabb's suggested modifications to the team's offense, including an increased use of screen passes. Smith said the Redskins ended up implementing such changes last week, after McNabb was benched in favor of Rex Grossman.

"That quote was almost -- I mean, it was entertaining," Shanahan said. "Asking Donovan about that, he nor I remember that conversation. To hear that we had a different offense for Rex is a joke. We ran six screens vs. Dallas. We've ran five or six screens in every game since our bye week, so I really have no idea what he's talking about, and it's completely inaccurate."

Shanahan again said he hasn't seen enough of Grossman in game situations to judge if he's a better fit for the team's offense, and he said all three of the teams quarterbacks regularly offer input on weekly game plans. He acknowledged some dissatisfaction with the speed at which McNabb operated in practice, but attributed it to a series of nagging injuries.

"You know, I think it was hard with him earlier on in the year," Kyle Shanahan said. "I don't think he was ever able to practice full speed. He had some injury problems, and I think he missed most of preseason because he did get hurt. And then when he came back, he either had a quad or a hamstring, so he hasn't been able to practice at the speed that we like and we expect from a quarterback all year."

Mike Shanahan said he still plans to speak with Smith, but that they have not yet chatted.

the point isn't making the SB the first year, rather, something different from the same crap that's on display year in and year out. progress is now considered shanahan has control over the players ? how about improving your third down percentage or stopping the run.

Posted by: hessone | December 24, 2010 2:19 PM |

No because what an agent says is the player saying it, he works for the player.

You think anyone is dumb enough to believe Mcnabb's agent said that with out his knowledge.

Anyone complaining about the new regime is a complete moron. Same old crap? Please...how's it like to be a complete pessimist? I bet your families love having you around on the holidays.

Hail!!

Posted by: Section104 |

Boy have YOU expressed some screwed up values. For openers, very few of us Morons are calling it the "same old crap" No, it's a different kind of crap with some of the old crap thrown in.

Looks like HOF Mike will, for all his genius, all his past achievements, and all his glory, increased the Redskins number of wins by a resounding one victory Whoo hoo!!!!

Now who the Hello are you to tell people to sit quietly by while that happens? First off, the Post would hat it as posts here would dry up.

ANd don't assume what we use as an escape valve translates to our fams. Right now, I'm gonna go play with my Grandson. Not a negative word thought or deed will be seen. Your heart's int he right place, I think.

the point isn't making the SB the first year, rather, something different from the same crap that's on display year in and year out. progress is now considered shanahan has control over the players ? how about improving your third down percentage or stopping the run.

Posted by: hessone | December 24, 2010 2:19 PM |

No because what an agent says is the player saying it, he works for the player.

You think anyone is dumb enough to believe Mcnabb's agent said that with out his knowledge.

If he did say it without his knowledge then he should be fired today.

Posted by: Flounder21 | December 24, 2010 2:51 PM |
--------------

I have no way of telling who's lying flound, but it's the same mess over and over.

I'm sure I've come off as being anti-redskin, but I'm not. I'm sick and tired of my favorite team on the same track. one more thing, all that has been accomplished by allen and shanahan in the past is moot. the jury is out on whether allen and shanahan can fix this mess. so far, not looking like they have a stable game plan, but I've been wrong moreso than right

If the Shanahan's didn't want McNabb's agent to say something unflattering to them, they should have handled the benching in a more dignified manner. Certainly, the people running Redskins Park haven't been worried about his reputation.

I've never been a huge McNabb fan. But he is getting too much of the blame by some fans and some media proxies - er - reporters for what has gone on this year. The Redskins Defense has been in the Top 10 for almost every year in the past decade. They were ranked #10 just last year, with most of the same players. Now they're, as of today, ranked dead last.

For six of the fourteen games so far, the opposing defense has scored at least 30 points. But it's almost as if Shanahan had nothing to do with this part of the failure, if you listen to his media puppets and some fans.

McNabb has underperformed this year, yes. But so has Shanahan. And you can't change one side of an equation without changing the other. If there is going to be accountability, which does not seem to be in place under Shanahan any more than it was under Zorn, it must also include the coaches.

by the way kerz, you can post whatever you'd like and I can handle it without a problem. being thick headed means being thick skinned. I suggest you grow some yourself and realize that it's only a game

by the way kerz, you can post whatever you'd like and I can handle it without a problem. being thick headed means being thick skinned. I suggest you grow some yourself and realize that it's only a game

Posted by: hessone | December 24, 2010 3:09 PM

Yet you start the morning calling someone a moron for no apparent reason. Like DM5, you are all class hessone, it's everyone else that is wrong.

The earlier McNabb comes out with a statement of his own, the better because I think he's making a big fool out of himself if he thinks silence is the better option. The stupid Shanahans, Mike and specifically Kyle, are making McNabb look so bad! And on a serious note, Snyder needs to step in because a lot of very good free agents will find it dificult to come to DC with this culture of nepotism and "strictly my way or you are a bust" reigning supreme under the Shanahan regime.

McNabbs agent needs to shut his hole!!! The way I see it, DM5 had his 6 Pro Bowl seasons IN PHILLY. This is his worst year statistically in his career. WE DON'T OWE HIM ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! His agent needs to quit with the "respect" BS. DM5 ain't done diddly for the Skins! What do we owe him! DM5 throws thw ball into the dirt, misses WIDE OPEN receivers whether it's a errant pass or he just doesn't see them all together, and can't get the ball into the endzone, which is why he is forced to engineer a final drive to win a game instead of having to run out the clock. Let's get SOMETHING for him. Grossman is a legit back-up, let's see what Beck can do and if we want to keep him or draft a QB this year.

The issue here is that in the culture that Danny has created over the past 10+ years,player have come to believe that they are bigger than the team. Here is another example of a player who was reading his own press clippings (old ones, albeit, 'cause he's only had one standout game in D.C.)and believes he's more important than the team.
Fans in D.C. keep complaining that we're not willing to build anything but yet, they'd rather defend a washed-up QB who can't run the offense than a coach and GM that arrived with verifiable experience in winning football. Also, don't start quoting Shanny's negative stats at the end of his stind in Denver, hell, anyone look at Belechik's record in Cleveland lately? Too many factors to consider but you have to give them a chance. Jettison the cry-baby today and send CP with him.

C'mon, folks, this is DC. Everything is blown way the fcuk out of proportion and everybody has to posture, it's just the nature of this town. Pretty sure things a cool between DM5 and little Shanny. It will all work out and we'll live happily ever after. We'll probably have a different starting QB next year and that's cool too. Best wishes to all the bloggas.

Yes. You know, in bygone days, the Redskins could have called the media and straightened things out. They could have even put pressure on the media to get rid of loose cannons. I'm not usually critical of Dan Snyder (who after all just mostly signs the checks), but his attempt to control the media presentation by shutting out the Post and controlling the radio isn't working. He's actually set in motion a situation where his competitors (including the Post) now want blood, and they're getting it, even if they have to make stuff up to create the negative stories going. Look at how they handled the Haynesworth story. They wouldn't let it go away. Now with McNabb, even when McNabb says everything's cool, and I want to be back, the Post is going to keep the negativity on the front page every day.

The agent is trying to protect his client and he would not have been much of an agent if he didn't say the things that he did. McNabb isn't going to soil his reputation and he will stay on the right political fence with the redskins by saying all the right things even though he is not happy with his benching. McNabb is a class act unfortunately his skill set will never mesh with what Shanahan preceives as how the offense should be run. The only way to find out was to make the trade with the Eagles.

last week was as fluid the offense has performed in a long time. Is it DM's fault - no, it just takes a different person to get the most out of the offensive scheme. This scheme is ideal for certain quarterbacks other than McNabb and both Shanahans found that out last week. Schaub, Grossman and perhaps Beck have the abilty to run this style of offense despite their own lack of certain skills in the QB area. I'm excited to see how Grossman will do agains't the Jaqs.

Wireman, I agree - this is DC. McNabb is gone before next season, as we all know. He just used his agent to get his side of the story out while preserving a thin veneer of deniability -- something every Washington politician understands. Kylebaby's description of his conversation with McNabb just tells me that Donovan doesn't want to pick a fight with the manfant. Why should McNabb bother with this pipsqueak, since their relationship is obviously broken beyond repair? But remember who called Donovan dumb and out of shape first. You reap what you sow.

Shankahan Sr. is a dud when he plays less than a mile above sea level, and now it looks like he's got a son he can't say no to. Looks like a tough time to be a redskins fan. If I were you guys, I would switch allegiances and start rooting for the Patriots... ;^)

Donovan thought the he could take the high road and let his agent do all the dirty work. Kyle confronted McNabb and Donovan threw his agent under the bus. There's no way an agent would make those comments w/o the approval of his client unless the agent is a total idiot.

You mess with one of them, you mess with the whole family. Why are these buffoons so insecure that they feel compel to respond to what a player's agent says. Don't these knuckleheads have more pressing issues like a game plan for this weekend? Let it go clowns and do something worthwhile, like an early Christmas present to Washington - resignation.

It matter not who they get as a quarter back the Redskins have been cursed since the last years of Jack Kent Cooke and the curse has since been renewed because Snyder refuses to discuss a name change with the American Indians. McNabb was told time and time again not to go with the Redskins because it may very well ruin his career.

Drama....drama...drama...No one is going to fess up here...We all know McNabb will not be the qb next season...Albert is gone....When training camp opens both will be gone and we will start all over again....

If there is more drama next summer I'm sure little Danny will be heard from...we have had enough drama to last the next 5 years...The time for talk is over now...

So, McNabb's mouthpiece shoots off his mouth about Shanahan.
McNabb denies to Shanahan ever saying any of those things.
When asked to clarify the situation, McNabb does not repudiate what his agent said and merely laughs and declines to comment.

It's official -- McNabb is a punk. A snickering punk.

Man up, you UNPROFESSIONAL PUNK. Either own up to what YOUR agent said, or fire his butt for putting false words into your mouth. None of this laugh and decline to comment BS.

THIS WHOLE HE SAID HE SAID GARBAGE NEEDS TO BE STOPPED.
SIMPLE SOLUTION...HAVE BOTH SHANAHANS SIT DOWN AT A TABLE WITH DONOVAN AND SMITH...AND INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE WP REPORTER TO VERIFY THE MEETING.
McNabb should fire his agent if his agent made it all up.

"the curse has since been renewed because Snyder refuses to discuss a name change with the American Indians."

Sheesh. Must be a longtime BoSox fan, practice voodoo or a politically correct buffoon. Stick another needle in the doll why dontcha? It really does work, yes?

Or maybe...just maybe, it could be that the losingest (if not now, he will be soon) owner of the Skins should have taken a note out of Cooke's book, stayed out of the way and let real professionals do their job.

At least w/ Allen and Shan, we've a chance to return from the bottom...not BEFORE 2-4 seasons of not squandering draft picks to overpriced, washed up free agents and realizing that a team actually consists of an offensive line and a defensive pass rush.

Merry Christmas everyone! A.) because I sincerely hope so, and B.) because it really pizzes off the politically correct buffoons to say it.

ButzBestSkinEver- R U kidding? Everybody knows it was Joe Jacoby! Anyway, let's look on the bright side. There are only 2 games left in this season's fiasco, and then we can start getting ready for next year's. And God bless us, every one!

Makes you wonder if it's actually the Washington Post that's stirring this pot, including making up stories about leaks.

Posted by: OintheSierras | December 24, 2010 3:39 PM | Report abuse

You BET the Post is b ehind the disfunctional Redskins! I have proof. I have phone records showing the POST called Haynesworth every week before "voluntary practices" and said don't come! The POST was on the sidelines telling Shanahan to bench McNabb before Grossman's disastrous "20 minute drill"

Going back further I have Emails from the Post to Snyder saying "Why not make Zorn HEAD coach?" To Cerrato saying "draft three receivers in the second round, but ignore Jackson or Royal--too small." They ordered Snyder to sue that woman over season tickets and ban critical T-shirts at Redskin Park last year...

This is all hogwash a bunch of retarded losers( the father, son and haslett all of them unholy ghost's)and their losing backstabbing, lying,cut throat so-called leadership with another projected 5-11 record blaming everyone but themselves and own stupidity. this "leadership(of the titanic)high point which should not take the length of the DIC-tater's contract will be a 7 win season if they are lucky.

Obviously QB McNabb is through with the Redskins. Wasting energy on this is silly. Kyle Shanahan is not exactly the top of the heep either. It's flat-out nepotism he's there. The guy is an undistinguished potato chip -- a lightweight with zero cred. Skins need to determine what's next. Frankly, the Off Line remains iffy, and the Shanahan's were also quite mediocre -- in this fan's opinion. Mike was all but lableled "anatomical feature" on nat'l TV. It's also obvious that after Elway, Shanahan delivered zero / zip / goose-egg results. No question that given results over time there have been better Head Coaches.

Wow--Kyle speaks! I don't believe him when he says he and Donovan have been fine all year anymore than I believe Donovan when he says he didn't say ANY of that stuff (maybe he just felt it and his agent said it for him--whaddya think?).

But Kyle comes off sounding defensive and a little bit touchy. Maybe Kyle Shan's dad has really promised him the HC job after he leaves, and Kyle's not gonna let some prima donna established QB stop him from making it to the top. On the other hand, we haven't seen evidence that Kyle's the guy yet, and if he has his dad's way with people, he may NOT be the guy.

Mike Shanahan is abrasive, but remember he worked his way up over the years, building his cred. Kyle's trying to jump ahead, and I wonder if today's athlete will accept his leadership after his father retires.

My question to the Shanahans is why do you need to make public your private conversation with McNabb. Are you just trying to make yourself look better? I would think they would 'man up' and keep the conversation private, that is, between them. By publishing his comments Kyle Shanahan comes across as a petty novice coach who needs to have the last word and to save face. He's the coach, so what he says goes. At least until we've all tired of the shenanigans at Redskin Park. Gonna be an interesting off season. I think the coaches have already lost much of the team through their bumbling and positioning to seem smart. I've gone from thinking Mike was a good HC to realizing he's just been lucky.

OFCOURSE HIS AGENT is going to exagerate, DM5's stock went way down with the benching.

Would everyone please give the coaches a break, they were handed a debacle of a team and I have already seen progress with the offense. It takes time to change culture, a culture among players, the media and even the fans (i mean when DM5 was benched people were jumping ship).

I like the blog and talking with "real" fans, I don't care for Jason Reid. He has stirred up more crap than anyone.

Remember winning changes everything. People would hate Belicheck if he was 5-9. Give Shanny time to turn it around and then complain, and DON'T TRUST AN AGENT.

The agent is a dumba$$, he thouught he was going to secure a sweet deal (way too much for DM5) for his client and he ignored the fine print that permit the Redskins to control his clients future all the way up until the first game of the season in 2011. What an idiot, he better start to play nice or Shanahan can string him along until the Friday before the the first game of the year and then cut him. That would effectively have him sitting out another year of football. The agent should never have let DM5 sign this deal. The only way DM5 gets out of washington in time to go to another team is if his agent gets the Redskins a 4th round draft pick in 2011.

Funny. I just went back through the records and checked. McNabb has actually won more playoff games (10) in his twelve seasons as an NFL Quarterback than Shanahan has won as a coach (8, including the superbowls) in his sixteen seasons as an NFL coach.

As I pointed out previously, Shanahan failed to even get his team to the playoffs for three out of the first four seasons after Elway retired. Then he had a run of three years in the playoffs. And after that, after 2005, he never saw the playoffs again as a coach.

As far as I'm concerned, we could ship both of these guys (Shanahan and McNabb) out of here. But I certainly don't understand the thinking of "McNabb is a loser" and "Shanahan is the king." No he's not. He's a mediocre coach who has rarely won without John Elway. Good dad. So-so coach. And not someone who seems to have a pattern of being honest. Let's just say that they're both not doing the right thing here and not make it so one sided.

Joe Gibbs had to bench Mark Brunell eventually. But you didn't hear nasty talk coming from "sources on the team" talking about how Brunell was lazy, stupid, and the scum of the earth. You also didn't see Brunell benched all the way to the number three position. That's because Joe Gibbs had class. Which is something that Shanahan does not have.

This is just an agent making noise as his client leaves town -- a "look back in anger" moment, nothing more. McNabb had no choice but to disavow them -- he has to stand on that sideline two more excruciating weeks. Then he is gone with his reputation damaged, just like the reputation of the head coach that gave up high draft picks to a division rival to get him. Will Shanahan learn from this? Stay tuned.

"But perhaps you could go back through the records and check how many playoff games McNabb has won FOR THE REDSKINS?

Posted by: ooyah32 | December 24, 2010 9:01 PM"

The same number of playoff games as Shanahan has won for the Redskins. A big fat zero.

McNabb is 5-10 as a starting QB for the Redskins. Shanahan is 5-11 as a coach for the Redskins. And I say that if we toss one of them, we might as well toss them both. I certainly think that if players are to be held accountable for poor performance, coaches should also be held accountable for them as well, both by the owner and by the fan base.

We need to keep in mind that the Shanahans were trying to change McNabb's footwork and pass delivery as of three or four weeks ago. Let's see: McNabb has played quarterback in the NFL for thirteen seasons, he's made the Pro Bowl six or seven times, and most people I talk to seem pretty sure that he'll be in the Hall of Fame--but his footwork and delivery needed work? Come on. That's setting the guy up to fail. The Shanahans are trying to lie their way out of this because neither one of them can do his job adequately. They should be packing and sending out resumes.

After Steve Spurrier left the Skins in shambles, Gibbs came in and went 6-10 his first year. I doubt many of the folks on this board that want to run Shanahan and his son out of town had Gibbs on such a short leash. Give it time. Cerrato left a lot of holes to fill. It will get better.

Funny. I just went back through the records and checked. McNabb has actually won more playoff games (10) in his twelve seasons as an NFL Quarterback than Shanahan has won as a coach (8, including the superbowls) in his sixteen seasons as an NFL coach.

CommonSenseDude

Not much common sense. I will take two superbowls over playoffs anyday in the "NFL." You can john elway won them, but as I recall John Elway didn't win anything apart from Shanny coaching.

People continue to throw coach under the bus for mishandeling Fat Albert and Slow DM5 but i fault the media and the Post more than anyone. Is he perfect, no, but no coach is and he is definetly changing the culture in washington. You go ahead and take DM5 and whatever washed up team he takes to the playoffs and I will take the Redskins when they win the Superbowl again.

Wow. So great that he'll make the Hall of Fame (at least according to the people you talk to) and yet someone that great is set up to fail if you want him to change his footwork?

A truly great and skilled player is able to do those things. A mediocre overrated player is unable to adapt and change and instead demands that the rest of the team change to fit his limited abilities.

"Not much common sense. I will take two superbowls over playoffs anyday in the "NFL." You can john elway won them, but as I recall John Elway didn't win anything apart from Shanny coaching.

People continue to throw coach under the bus for mishandeling Fat Albert and Slow DM5 but i fault the media and the Post more than anyone. Is he perfect, no, but no coach is and he is definetly changing the culture in washington. You go ahead and take DM5 and whatever washed up team he takes to the playoffs and I will take the Redskins when they win the Superbowl again."

Thanks for the comments, Kyle. Tell your Dad we said hello.

Elway did not win Superbowls without Shanahan but Shanahan didn't win but one playoff game his entire coaching career without Elway. Furthermore, Elway and the Broncos reached the Super Bowl three times under Dan Reeves. Shanahan inherited a team that had the capacity to reach the Superbowl and, frankly, was most likely at the right place at the right time.

I had posted this before, but, please look over the Shanahan post-Elway record, since you may not be familiar with it.

He missed the playoffs for three of the four years after Elway retired. Then his team got nuked in the wild card game two years in a row, barely getting into the playoffs as the sixth seed. The next year, his team won the only playoff game Shanahan ever won without Elway. That was five years ago and Shanny's never returned to the playoffs.

So, if you think Shanny, who couldn't take a Super Bowl winning team after Elway left and get success with it, please tell me what the basis is of your faith that he can take this franchise and get something good going with it.

Also, I'm not so much a McNabb guy. But I think it's totally unfair to see all the heat put on McNabb from the same people who view Shanahan as some sort of savior.

At some point the team, the fans, the coaches, and everyone have to face reality. I'm a diehard Redskins fan, but you have to look at a situation for what it is. The Redskins have been and are one of the worst teams in the NFL for the past fifteen years. In that period, something like 23 teams have gone to the Super Bowl, almost 27 or 28 teams have place in Conference Championship games. This means that the Redskins are one of the worst 3 or 4 teams in the league -- and have been for the past 15 years. They've only had something like 4 winning seasons in this time -- and three of the four were 9-7 (not exactly what I would call dominating). The franchise has made more boneheaded personnel moves than any other team in NFL history -- drafting Taylor Jacobs ahead of Anquan Bouldin, drafting Malcolm Kelley ahead DeSean Jackson, hiring Steve Spurrier instead of Tony Dungy, and the list goes on. This is not to mention that in that same period they released Stephen Davis (who became a pro bowler in Carolina) and brought Trung Candidate. Not to mention all of the draft choices and millions of dollars they gave up for big name players who turned out to be total bums.

This team is deservedly the biggest joke in recent NFL history. Yet, everyone in DC has this warped expectation that somewhat of a miracle will happen and someone like Jesus Christ will come in to save the team -- and they have been looking for the football messiah every off season -- for the last fifteen years. At one point it was Heath Shuler, then it was Gus Ferotte, you had Jeff Hostetler, Brad Johnson, Patrick Ramsey, the plethora of players from Florida, and the list goes on -- bums, every last on of them.

Face it, this team sucks, these players suck, the coaching staff sucks, the ownership suck -- and the performance of the franchise absolutely blows. The division record in NFC East is embarrassing (more last place finishes than any other team in the last 15 years).

Instead of trying to get some young players in here and taking the time to build a decent team, the Redskins are consumed with a bunch of soap opera nonsense.

The whole mess between the Shanahans, McNabb, his agent, Rex, etc -- that's why the Redskins suck and have sucked for the past fifteen years. They should be focusing on what this team is, and trying to find a way to build a better team

Yes, I'm still a Redskins fan -- not a happy one. You can find me at the next game -- I'll be the one with the paper bag over my head.

He said , she said.. This is so sad just like this team all this drama and nothing to show for it on Sunday.

Yeah Kyle , Mcnabb didn't say it just like you have not been leaking information to SOURCES ....What a pathetic team an Mike Shanahan was supposed to restore credibilty to this team all 7 million dollars of him

Thanks for the stats Common Sense. You make a valid point, however I think we could make the same point about every coach available ie John Gruden, (who inherited Tampa Bay from Tony Dungy), Tony Dungy with Peyton Manning, etc. We know it is hard to win in the NFL no matter how good a coach you are. When considering the above stats, Shanny is a proven coach who did a lot with less spending than Snyder. So maybe in the long run the two will make a good team.

As skin fans we are on the same side, we want them to win. I don't think Shanny is perfect, but I think the media and fans have over scrutinized every decision he has made. I don't think he is the savior (there is only one of those, who we celebrate today), I'm just not ready to throw him under the bus, like many. Oddly I like the changes I see, Fat Albert taking a hike, Brandon Banks, Ryan Torain, Anthony Armstrong.

"As skin fans we are on the same side, we want them to win. I don't think Shanny is perfect, but I think the media and fans have over scrutinized every decision he has made. I don't think he is the savior (there is only one of those, who we celebrate today), I'm just not ready to throw him under the bus, like many. Oddly I like the changes I see, Fat Albert taking a hike, Brandon Banks, Ryan Torain, Anthony Armstrong.

Signed,
Not Kyle, just a hopeful fan.

Posted by: rodskin | December 25, 2010 5:49 PM | Report abuse"

I see your point, buddy, and please pardon the sarcasm on my part.

I don't really like Shanahan so far, but, like most Skins fans, I don't have a lot of good answers for the mess we have. I will say one thing that I think applies to both the hiring of Shanahan and the trading for McNabb. We as an organization rely way too much on aging guys who have been successful in the past and not enough time cultivating guys who are young and inexperienced who will be successful in the future. That applies to both players, including the aging McNabb as well as coaches, including the aging Shanahan.

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